Greek protesters condemn EU policies on refugees

SHAFAQNA – Thousands of Greeks have hit the streets in the capital, Athens, for a mass protest rally against EU policies towards refugees mainly coming from the Middle East.

Chanting pro-refugee slogans on Wednesday, the protesters condemned the “imperialist war in the Middle East” and expressed solidarity with refugees arriving in Greece.

They rallied outside EU offices in Athens before heading to the US embassy. They held banners reading, “NATO, USA, European Union governments create wars, poverty, uprooting” and “Refugees welcome.”

Police forces were deployed in large numbers outside the US embassy, however, no clashes were reported and the rally went by peacefully.

Europe is facing an unprecedented influx of refugees, most of whom are fleeing conflict zones in Africa and the Middle East, particularly Syria. Some 1.3 million refugees have entered the EU since the start of 2015.

Many blame support by some Western countries for militants operating in the Middle East as the main reason behind the mass exodus of refugees from their home countries.